“Everybody says their parade is the best. But ours is actually the best,” McElroy joked. “We think our parade, as a woman's night parade, has kind of a unique feel.”

Aphrodite rolls at 6:30 p.m. The route follows the same route as the Hercules parade, starting at the Southland Mall, heading through downtown Houma and ending at Town Hall.

Krewe of Mardi Gras

The biggest of the weekend's parades, the Krewe of Mardi Gras, rolls at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in east Houma.

The Krewe has more than 600 male and female members and 30 floats this year. Its theme is “Come to the Mardi Gras.”

The parade also features a mix of local and outside marching bands.

The krewe's grand marshal is Liz Cavalier, one of the stars of the popular reality show “Swamp People.”

“We just have a massive amount of floats, and we've got a whole ton of stuff to throw,” said Marlene Jewell, krewe president. “We're all ready for a good time.”

The parade rolls down Grand Caillou Road and Tunnel Boulevard.

Krewe of Terreanians

The Krewe of Terreanians rolls at 12:30 p.m. Sunday in west Houma. A men's krewe 400 members strong, the parade's 20 floats are themed after “Louisiana Festivals.”

“We try to keep our traditions strong,” said ball captain Dane Ledet Jr. “All our dukes are in convertibles, but they also get out and walk the parade route to be one-on-one with the people.”

Terreanians also follows the traditional west Houma route that starts at the mall.

Ledet said paradegoers should be on the lookout for the parade's signature medallions and doubloons.

Montegut Children's Carnival Club

Down in Montegut, 160 children from the first through fourth grades will put on the Children's Carnival Club parade at 2 p.m. Sunday. The parade's 10 floats will roll from Dolphin Drive through Montegut along La. 55 and back.

“If you're looking for a fun little parade to go with your family to, this is it,” said organizer Wendy Lirette.

The floats are themed after the months of the year.

LAFOURCHE

Krewe of Athena

In Lafourche, the party starts at 7 p.m. Friday in Golden Meadow, with the women-only Krewe of Athena.

The parade, themed “Rolling Back in Time,” features 15 floats and more than 230 members.

The parade rolls along La. 1 through the entire town.

“This is our second year, and we're really excited,” said organizer Gwen Bradberry. “We're some ladies looking to have a good Mardi Gras time.”

Krewe of Atlantis

The next parade in Golden Meadow is the Krewe of Atlantis, which starts at noon Saturday.

The parade's 70 male and female members have put together 11 floats, all themed “Atlantis Goes to Disney.”

Krewe of Apollo

The Krewe of Apollo, one of the largest “down the bayou” parades, rolls at noon Saturday in Lockport.

Featuring more than 150 members, each of the parade's 20 floats has a different theme. The parade will also feature marching bands, dance teams, DJs, visiting festival queens and horse troupes.

Krewe of Babylon

The Krewe of Babylon in Larose-Cut Off rolls at 5 p.m. Saturday. It features 50 men and women and five floats, and is themed “Babylon Brands the Bayou.”

Du Bon Temps

The Du Bon Temps rolls at 5:50 p.m. Saturday in Larose. Featuring 275 members and 10 floats, it is themed “Peace, Love and Rock ‘N' Roll.”

Krewe of Cleophas and Krewe of Chronos

Parades start at 12:30 p.m. Sunday in Thibodaux with the Krewe of Cleophas. More than 450 men and women and 24 floats will roll through most of the major roads in Thibodaux, starting at the Nicholls State University campus.

The parade also features local marching bands.

“We really try to emphasize that family atmosphere,” said captain Audie Levron. “We want people to just come out and enjoy the setting for the whole day.”

Immediately after Cleophas, the Krewe of Chronos rolls along the same route. The all-men troupe of 175 has 12 floats.

Krewe of Nereids

The weekend's festivities end at 6 p.m. Sunday in Golden Meadow with the Krewe of Nereids.

A women's krewe of more than 200 members, Nereids will feature 14 floats themed “Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend.”

Krewe organizer Jennifer Cheramie said the parade has a long history in the parish.

<p>With Fat Tuesday itself in sight, Mardi Gras season is ramping up in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. Here's information you need to plan out your Carnival weekend.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><h3>TERREBONNE</h3>
<p><b>Krewe of Aphrodite</b></p><p>The party starts Friday night in west Houma with the all-female Krewe of Aphrodite.</p><p>The parade includes more than 450 members and 17 floats.</p><p>Krewe member Nanette McElroy said the parade's theme is “Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler.”</p><p>“Everybody says their parade is the best. But ours is actually the best,” McElroy joked. “We think our parade, as a woman's night parade, has kind of a unique feel.”</p><p>Aphrodite rolls at 6:30 p.m. The route follows the same route as the Hercules parade, starting at the Southland Mall, heading through downtown Houma and ending at Town Hall.</p><p><b>Krewe of Mardi Gras</b></p><p>The biggest of the weekend's parades, the Krewe of Mardi Gras, rolls at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in east Houma. </p><p>The Krewe has more than 600 male and female members and 30 floats this year. Its theme is “Come to the Mardi Gras.”</p><p>The parade also features a mix of local and outside marching bands. </p><p>The krewe's grand marshal is Liz Cavalier, one of the stars of the popular reality show “Swamp People.” </p><p>“We just have a massive amount of floats, and we've got a whole ton of stuff to throw,” said Marlene Jewell, krewe president. “We're all ready for a good time.”</p><p>The parade rolls down Grand Caillou Road and Tunnel Boulevard. </p><p><b>Krewe of Terreanians </b></p><p>The Krewe of Terreanians rolls at 12:30 p.m. Sunday in west Houma. A men's krewe 400 members strong, the parade's 20 floats are themed after “Louisiana Festivals.” </p><p>“We try to keep our traditions strong,” said ball captain Dane Ledet Jr. “All our dukes are in convertibles, but they also get out and walk the parade route to be one-on-one with the people.” </p><p>Terreanians also follows the traditional west Houma route that starts at the mall. </p><p>Ledet said paradegoers should be on the lookout for the parade's signature medallions and doubloons. </p><p><b>Montegut Children's Carnival Club</b></p><p>Down in Montegut, 160 children from the first through fourth grades will put on the Children's Carnival Club parade at 2 p.m. Sunday. The parade's 10 floats will roll from Dolphin Drive through Montegut along La. 55 and back. </p><p>“If you're looking for a fun little parade to go with your family to, this is it,” said organizer Wendy Lirette.</p><p>The floats are themed after the months of the year.</p><h3>LAFOURCHE</h3>
<p><b>Krewe of Athena</b></p><p>In Lafourche, the party starts at 7 p.m. Friday in Golden Meadow, with the women-only Krewe of Athena. </p><p>The parade, themed “Rolling Back in Time,” features 15 floats and more than 230 members. </p><p>The parade rolls along La. 1 through the entire town. </p><p>“This is our second year, and we're really excited,” said organizer Gwen Bradberry. “We're some ladies looking to have a good Mardi Gras time.” </p><p><b>Krewe of Atlantis</b></p><p>The next parade in Golden Meadow is the Krewe of Atlantis, which starts at noon Saturday. </p><p>The parade's 70 male and female members have put together 11 floats, all themed “Atlantis Goes to Disney.” </p><p><b>Krewe of Apollo </b></p><p>The Krewe of Apollo, one of the largest “down the bayou” parades, rolls at noon Saturday in Lockport. </p><p>Featuring more than 150 members, each of the parade's 20 floats has a different theme. The parade will also feature marching bands, dance teams, DJs, visiting festival queens and horse troupes. </p><p> </p><p><b>Krewe of Babylon</b></p><p>The Krewe of Babylon in Larose-Cut Off rolls at 5 p.m. Saturday. It features 50 men and women and five floats, and is themed “Babylon Brands the Bayou.”</p><p><b>Du Bon Temps</b></p><p>The Du Bon Temps rolls at 5:50 p.m. Saturday in Larose. Featuring 275 members and 10 floats, it is themed “Peace, Love and Rock 'N' Roll.” </p><p><b>Krewe of Cleophas and Krewe of Chronos</b></p><p>Parades start at 12:30 p.m. Sunday in Thibodaux with the Krewe of Cleophas. More than 450 men and women and 24 floats will roll through most of the major roads in Thibodaux, starting at the Nicholls State University campus. </p><p>The parade also features local marching bands. </p><p>“We really try to emphasize that family atmosphere,” said captain Audie Levron. “We want people to just come out and enjoy the setting for the whole day.” </p><p>Immediately after Cleophas, the Krewe of Chronos rolls along the same route. The all-men troupe of 175 has 12 floats.</p><p><b>Krewe of Nereids </b></p><p>The weekend's festivities end at 6 p.m. Sunday in Golden Meadow with the Krewe of Nereids. </p><p>A women's krewe of more than 200 members, Nereids will feature 14 floats themed “Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend.” </p><p>Krewe organizer Jennifer Cheramie said the parade has a long history in the parish.</p><p>“We're the first all-female night parade in Lafourche Parish,” she said. “We've developed our own signature throws. We've got signature cups, frisbees, stuffed animals and our own beads.”</p><p>Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at matthew.albright@dailycomet.com.</p>